Sudan, from World's Smokers series (N33) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes 1888

This chromolithograph trading card titled, "Sudan," was created by Allen & Ginter. Part of the "World's Smokers" series, it features a man smoking, set against a textured golden backdrop. The card’s composition balances vibrant color with a semiotic encoding of cultural difference. The man’s dark skin, adorned with elaborate jewelry, contrasts with the neutral background, drawing immediate attention to his figure. The smoke, rendered in soft whites and grays, creates a dynamic tension with the static pose of the smoker, challenging conventional representations of identity and exoticism. The textures and patterns, such as the stippled background and the intricate details of the man's attire, function as cultural signs that prompt us to question how meaning is constructed. These cards, produced for commercial purposes, offer a window into the complex interplay between commerce, representation, and cultural perception.